A blog to record my personal Bible studies and thoughts as I grow in faith.

Romans Chapter 12

Paul sets out a nice list of “do’s and do not’s” for Christians. While this list may seem like a list of “laws”, they are not. Rather, if you read them and think on them, Paul gives a very nice mental picture of how Christians should act, and that is the spirit in which I read this chapter.

So my new system of Bible Study sends me through each chapter 6 different times looking for different things, however this Chapter I only found 3 different subjects as follows:

Names of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit (I underline references to all forms of God in purple and then follow up by researching them in the concordance. I am specifically looking for times when the writer may use a different term for God within a chapter.)

Advice and tips for Christian living/thinking, instructions for followers of Christ (I use a green star in the margin and may put parenthesis around the relevant text.)

Actions/thoughts that Christians should not do. Things unbecoming of believers (I use an upside down black triangle in the margin and again, I may put parenthesis around the text.)

So those 3 “subjects” are what I focused on in this chapter.

1. Names of God – I use the NASB version and everywhere the name “God” was used, it was “Theos” which is a reference to the Triune God. Just as was used in previous chapters. There are 2 references to the title “Lord”. The first in verse 11 when Paul references “…serving the Lord” which is consistent with the title “Kurios” having to do with Master/Lord, God the Messiah. The second is in vs 19 which is a quote from the OT, “VEGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. This is interesting in that it came out of the OT prior to the appearance of the Messiah and yet the title “Lord” or “Kurios” refers to Master/slave, and is reserved as a title for God the Messiah. The text itself coincides with the fact that God the Messiah will be the judge of mankind. I think this is really cool! There is one reference to Christ or “Christos”, God the Messiah.

All in all, Paul is very consistent in how he uses terms to reference God all throughout Romans so far.

2. Advice – This subject is relevant throughout most of Chapter 12. This seems to be the focus of this Chapter. So here is a bulleted list:

vs 1 – present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship

vs 2 – be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect

vs 3 – think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith

vs 6 – Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly

vs 9 – Let love be without hypocrisy

vs 9 – Abhor what is evil

vs 9 – cling to what is good

vs 10 – Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor

vs 11 – fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

vs 12 – rejoicing in hope

vs 12 – persevering in tribulation

vs 12 – devoted to prayer

vs 13 – contributing to the needs of the saints

vs 13 – practicing hospitality

vs 14 – Bless those who persecute you

vs 15 – Rejoice with those who rejoice

vs 15 – weep with those who weep

vs 16 – Be of the same mind toward one another

vs 16 – associate with the lowly

vs 17 – Respect what is right in the sight of all men

vs 18 – If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

vs 19 – leave room for the wrath of God

vs 20 – If your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink…

vs 21 – overcome evil with good

I want to be the follower of Christ that is described here. Wow.

3. Things that aren’t becoming in a believer:

vs 2 – Do not be conformed to this world

vs 3 – don’t think more highly of yourself than you should

vs 11 – don’t lag behind in diligence but be fervent in sprit, serving the Lord

vs 14 – bless and do not curse others

vs 16 – do not be haughty in mind but associate with the lowly

vs 16 – Do not be wise in your own estimation

vs 17 – Never pay back evil for evil to anyone

vs 19 – Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God

vs 21 – Do not be overcome by evil

I really liked this chapter. I think it was really straight forward and not requiring much explanation. I love the mental image of the believer that Paul has painted and I want to be more like that myself.